Happy Birthday Daiel

Chocolate Chip Cake w/ Cream Cheese Frosting 

Today my niece Daiel turns 14 years old! Although we will not be in the same state on this special day, I decided to make a birthday cake in her honor.

Daiel is an aspiring singer & songwriter and I love her to death. She is an amazing daughter, sister, niece and friend. Its hard not living close, thank the Lord for Facebook & YouTube, Daiel is constantly posting photo's and video's that keep me updated & brighten up my days :-)

I made this birthday cake special just for her!!!

Moist Chocolate Chip Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Just like my niece this cake is beautiful inside and out! I decided on a blue shade for the frosting because Daiel is intelligent & loving. The sprinkles represent her creativity and vibrant personality!

Inside you will find a super moist chocolate cake with a special CHOCOLATE Chip surprise.

Happy Birthday Daiel I hope you have an amazing 14th Birthday Day!

Lemon Meringue Tart for Mom

Lemon Meringue Tart for Mom

Today we celebrated my mom's Birthday.

She is such an amazing daughter, sister, friend, wife and mother. I am very blessed to have the kind of mother that is a constant inspiration. She is such a strong woman and I am so thankful for her!!!

Because my mom is not like any other mom. I didn't think a tradditional birthday cake was the right choice, so I decided to make her something sweet and bold just like her personality.

This Lemon Meringue tart starts with a sweet and spicy crust, the Lemon Curd has a tangy bold flavor and then its topped off with a lightly sweetened vanilla meringue. Sounds just like my mom to me.

 Chef LC eating a licorice rope in 1987 celebrating Mom's birthday

Happy Birthday Jackee

Raspberry Cheesecake Cupcakes

                 Chef LC and Sister Jackee Oct 2011

Individual Servings

of Philadelphia Styled 

Cheesecake Topped 

with Raspberry 

Sauce, Fresh Whipped Cream, & a Vanilla Wafer Cookie

My sister Jackee has an obsession with cheesecake. So on her birthday I surprised her with Raspberry Cheesecake inspired by her favorite restaurant.

This cheesecake is a lighter version of the famous New York style. It is nestled in a vanilla wafer & graham cracker crust, topped with a Raspberry sauce and garnished with fresh whipped cream and a vanilla wafer cookie.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACKEE

Banana Bread

Banana Nut Squares/Bread

Ingredients:
2 1/2 Cup Flour
1 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
3/4 Cup Salted Butter Softened
1 Cup Salted Butter Melted
1 1/2 Cups Brown Sugar Packed
2 Eggs
3 Cups Ripe Bananas (About 7) Mashed
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
2 Teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
1 Cup Chopped Walnuts (Optional)

Dad's French Toast

Dad's French Toast

One of my favorite memories from childhood was spending time in the kitchen with my family. Every Saturday morning my sisters and I were up early making breakfast for the family. 

Nakia made the eggs, I made the bacon and my older sister Jackee would make my dad's famous French Toast. 

The bond my family created in the kitchen is irreplaceable. From experiencing great flavors, to Jackee accidentally burning something (French Toast maybe one of the only things my sister Jackee can cook) we have created so many memories.

I hold this recipe close to my heart and am so excited to share it with you. Now this is not your traditional American French Toast. We have add additional spices and added brown sugar to boost the flavors.



  
Chef LC and her Daddy 1985







                                                                                  

Mascarpone Sabayon Fruit Salad

Mascarpone Sabayon Fruit Salad

My mom always wants a light dessert and mixing fruit with mint and whipped cream creates just that. The mascarpone sabayon cream however turns this ordinary fruit into a decadent dessert.

I wanted to create something that my mom would enjoy while allowing my family to indulge and experience something amazing.

Mascarpone is one of the foods that makes food lover smile and stop dead in their tracks. I remember the first time I had Mascarpone; I was at Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria in Columbia City with my good friend Bev. She was introducing me to a new restaurant that a few of her close friends opened and insisted I had their Tiramisu. HEAVEN!!! From the first bite I was in love. After I ate the entire dessert, I ordered another one to take home.

"Hands down the best Tiramisu I have ever had, and the only Tiramisu I will eat to this day."

Sweet Potato Crumble

  LC’s Sweet Potato Crumble

Every Thanksgiving I look forward to indulging in Sweet Potato Pie. The smell of the spices in fresh baked pie makes me happy and warm all over, but this past Thanksgiving I missed out on my pie :-(

So this morning I decided I needed to get my sweet potato on and developed this amazing recipe.

This is the BEST Sweet Potato Crumble I have ever had. I may be biases, but then again maybe not! Try it out and let me know what you think!